healthy living

June is Men’s Health Month, so it’s time for men to learn more about their bodies and how to stay healthy for life!

Let’s start off the month by talking about….the prostate gland.

The prostate gland is about the size of a walnut. It’s located just below the bladder and it surrounds the urethra, a tube that carries urine and semen out of the body. As part of the male reproductive system, the prostate gland’s main purpose is to secrete a slightly alkaline fluid that forms part of the seminal fluid, a fluid that carries sperm.

According to the nonprofit Men’s Health Network, more than 30 million men suffer from prostate conditions that negatively affect their quality of life. And men, this includes your sex life!

Maintaining a healthy weight and enjoying moderate exercise is good for the prostate and your overall health.

Get to know your body. Do you know what a baseline is? A baseline is what is normal for you. When you establish a baseline, you have something to compare changes to, and it’s easier to share that information with a doctor to determine if you are having an issue.

Natural products for men only during the month of June, Men’s Health Month … Before you consider taking a little blue pill…I encourage you to try natural supplements to increase your sexual vitality.

I recommend a line of natural supplements, available only through doctors, called Standard Process, that feature a number of products which are extremely effective for encouraging healthy prostate and testes function. Throughout the month of June 2017, I’m offering 20% off men’s health products Prost-X, Prostate PMG, Zinc Liver Chelate and Symplex M.

Ask me about which one is best for you (or your loved one) when you are in the office.

Can you remember the last time you had a good belly laugh? When you laughed so hard, you cried? As it turns out, you weren’t just having fun. You were helping to better your health.

Laughter can be good for the heart and soul, and even your waistline. Here are seven reasons why this Burbank chiropractor prescribes laughter:

Lowers stress

Lowers blood pressure

Boosts immunity

Decreases pain

Prevents heart disease

Relaxes muscles

Increases alertness, creativity, and memory

A recent study at Loma Linda University suggests that laughter can help improve short-term memory in older adults. And a study by researchers at Vanderbilt University found that laughter may even help you to shed a few pounds.

Surgeons used humor to distract patients from pain as early as the 13th century. Later, in the 20th century, came the scientific study of the effect of humor on physical wellness. Many credit this to Norman Cousins, an American political journalist, and author. After years of pain from a serious illness, Cousins claims to have cured himself with a self-invented regimen of laughter and vitamins. In his 1979 book Anatomy of an Illness, Cousins describes how watching comedic movies helped him recover.

You may recall the recent movie Patch Adams, about a medical doctor who literally donned clown attire as therapy for his patients. The real Dr. Adams founded The Gesundheit! Institute, a nonprofit organization that promotes holistic healthcare. And yes, he still sees patients and lectures in clown attire.

Laughter may not be a miracle cure. It might not heal your painful lower back like treatments from this Burbank chiropractor. But it definitely can reduce mental tension and increase energy. Beware though! It’s said to be contagious. Next time you hear someone bursting out loud with laughter, join in. I’ll bet you a thousand smiles, you’ll be glad you did.

This Saturday, April 22 marks the 47th anniversary of Earth Day, and on this day over a billion people in nearly 200 countries are expected to take action to protect our shared environment.

But why wait for just one day? Why not celebrate and care for our precious environment all year long? The changes you make today have a greater likelihood to become a part of your lifestyle if you consciously repeat them over time.

I know that for me, every day is Earth Day. At the office, we recycle and reuse everything we can. We are conservative with water usage and turn on lights and air conditioning in rooms as needed. I happily drive a Prius that gets amazing mileage with very little carbon footprint.

Here are a few suggestions for how you can celebrate Earth Day every day in your lifestyle and home.

Use your cloth bags. We all have a collection of cloth bags gathering dust in the trunk of our car. If you shop in Burbank or the Los Angeles area, you will pay ten cents for a heavy plastic, reusable bag if you don’t bring your own. Don’t buy it. Place your paid-for items back in the cart and bag them as you put them in your trunk. Or buy a paper bag if you must. They are great for holding recycling.

Start composting. If you live where you have a yard or garden, you can compost. More than a billion pounds of food are thrown away each year. Help make a difference by turning your food waste into soil.

Buy local produce. Eat fresher and healthier by buying local produce. Look for the closest Farmer’s Market to where you live and become a regular shopper.

Recycle your e-waste. Every year, thousands of old electronic devices — we’re talking big old TV’s, computer printers, etc. — are tossed into landfills, polluting the environment when they can be recycled. Go online and find out where you can take your old electronics for recycling.

Use less water. The city of Los Angeles recently announced that we are reaching our water conservation goals. This is no time to get lazy! Turn the water off when you brush your teeth. Take shorter showers. Run the clothes and dishwasher with full loads only. In this drought-prone region, it’s only a matter of time before this precious commodity is at a premium once again.